SO2衍生物对人BEP2D细胞哮喘基因表达影响

目的 研究二氧化硫(SO₂)衍生物染毒后人支气管上皮细胞(BEP2D)哮喘相关基因黏蛋白5AC(MUC5AC)和白介素-13(IL-13)表达的变化。方法 以不同浓度SO₂衍生物(0.000 1,0.001,0.01,0.1,1 mmol/L)对BEP2D细胞染毒,采用荧光实时定量RT-PCR、免疫细胞化学和酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)等方法测定基因的表达。结果 不同浓度SO₂衍生物处理的BEP2D细胞中MUC5AC和IL-13 mRNA和蛋白表达比对照组明显增加;经0.1 mmol/L SO₂衍生物处理后换新鲜培养基再孵育不同的时间,MUC5AC和IL-13 mRNA水平均显著增高,在更换新鲜培养基孵育4 h时达到峰值,24 h时虽然有所降低,但仍比对照组显著增高。结论 SO₂衍生物能增加EBP2D细胞MUC5AC和IL-13在转录和翻译水平上的表达,提示这可能是SO₂加重哮喘疾病的原因之一。     

A proposed method for the evaluation of body fat in Japanese adults that predicts obesity

The present study was designed to develop a simple predictive equation for the percent body fat (%BF) in Japanese adults based on variables collected during health examinations. We hypothesized that a benchmark for defining metabolic syndrome and obesity could be based on %BF, which was measured by underwater weighing (UW) as a gold standard for body composition assessment. Thus, we developed a predictive equation for %BF derived from UW that may contribute to the assessment of obesity status, characterized by an excess accumulation of visceral or subcutaneous fat. The subjects were 810 Japanese participants (283 men, 527 women, ages 18-59 years). Anthropometric variables, including height, weight, 7 circumferences, and 8 skinfold thicknesses, were measured. The developed predictive equation was as follows: %BF = 10.558 × sex (1 for men; 2 for women) + 0.069 × age + 0.667 × body mass index + 0.314 × abdominal circumference − 35.881.The coefficient of determination (r²) was 0.69. The predicted %BF derived from this equation was highly correlated with UW-measured values and did not show underestimation or overestimation in either sex. These data suggested that this predictive equation for %BF can be used for all Japanese adults and does not require the use of medical equipment and special measurement techniques. By combining the equation for %BF developed in this study with a %BF cutoff value of metabolic syndrome and obesity (>25.0% in men and >30.0% in women), all Japanese adults can easily and conveniently assess obesity status.     

A New Isoflavone Glycitein 7‐O‐beta‐d‐Glucoside 4'‐O‐methylate,isolated from Cordyceps militaris grown on Germinated Soybeans Extract,Inhibits EGF‐induced Mucus Hypersecretion in the Human Lung Mucoepidermoid Cells

A new isoflavone glycitein 7‐O‐beta‐d ‐glucoside 4''‐O‐methylate (CGLM) has been isolated recently from Cordyceps militaris grown on germinated soybean extract and has antioxidant activity. In the present study, CGLM was investigated for its suppression of airway mucous hyper‐secretion in epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐treated human lung mucoepidermoid cells. NCI‐H292 cells were treated with CGLM for 1 h, followed by EGF treatment for 24 h. The decrease in cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) production was correlated with reduced levels of protein and mRNA of inducible matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) and also MUC5AC gene expression. CGLM directly inhibited down‐regulated NF‐κB activity, and significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 (p42/p44) in NCI‐H292 cells. These results suggest that CGLM protects NCI‐H292 cells from EGF‐induced damage by down‐regulation of COX‐2, MMP‐9 and MUC5AC gene expression, mediated via blocking the NF‐kappa‐B and p38/ERK MAPK pathways. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FL联合TPO体外培养AC133+细胞表面标记的变化

目的:探讨脐血造血干/祖细胞的体外扩增.方法:免疫磁珠法分离纯化脐血AC133+细胞,在细胞因子FLT3配体、血小板生成素作用下,体外扩增,检测有核细胞扩增的倍数.采用流式细胞仪分析细胞表面标志的变化.结果:FLT3联合血小板生成素体外培养2周.有核细胞扩增(18±8)倍.CD34细胞扩增2.8倍,AC133+未获扩增,CD34细胞纯度由(56±23)%下降到(8±1)%,AC133+细胞由85%下降到(0.1±0.1)%.随着体外培养时间延长至4周,有核细胞,CD34+进一步扩增.分别扩增475倍和17倍.但细胞随之发生分化,CD34+细胞占有核细胞中的比例下降至2%,AC133+细胞消失.CD45细胞上升到1.3%.结论:FL联合TPO长期培养AC133+细胞能使CD34细胞扩增.     

EOG-Based Recording and Automated Detection of Sleep Rapid Eye Movements: A Critical Review, and Some Recommendations

This paper presents a critical discussion of methods used for the recording and the automated detection of sleep rapid eye movements (REMs) via electro-oculographic (EOG) methodologies. Specifically, the paper elaborates on: 1) various EOG montages for sleep eye movement recording, 2) AC vs. DC coupling for EOG signal amplification, 3) artifact presence and elimination thereof via filtering of the EOG signal, and 4) available EOG-based automated methods for REM detection. Recommendations for the development of an “optimum’ automatic sleep REM detection system based on EOG recordings are presented as well.     

Duration-dependent growth of N1m for speech-modulated bone-conducted ultrasound

Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) modulated by speech sound is recognized as speech sound and activates the auditory cortex similar to audible sound. To investigate the mechanisms of perception, the effects of stimulus duration on N1m were compared among air-conducted audible speech sound (AC speech), AC speech with carrier BCU and speech-modulated BCU in eight native Japanese with normal hearing. The Japanese vowel sound /a/ was used as a stimulus with durations of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 ms. Comparison between AC speech with and without carrier showed that the presentation of carrier had no effect on N1m evoked by AC speech. Comparison among the three conditions showed that N1m amplitude for speech-modulated BCU differed from that for the two AC speeches. Moreover, N1m amplitude growth saturated at 40 ms for speech-modulated BCU, and at 20 ms for two AC speeches. These results suggest a difference in temporal integration of N1m between speech-modulated BCU and AC speech. Considering these results, it is reasonable to conclude that N1m evoked by speech-modulated BCU is influenced mainly by the ultrasonic component rather than demodulated audible sound. Given this finding, the notion needs to be considered that the mechanisms underlying perception and recognition of speech-modulated BCU depend on the ultrasonic component to some extent.     

The interval between prothrombin time tests and the quality of oral anticoagulants treatment in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: The incidence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be significantly reduced with warfarin therapy especially if optimally controlled. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the interval between consecutive prothrombin time measurements on the time in therapeutic range (INR 2-3) in a cohort of patients with AF on chronic warfarin treatment in the community. METHODS: All INR measurements available from a relatively large cohort of patients with chronic AF were reviewed and the mean interval between consecutive INR tests of each patient was correlated with the time in therapeutic range (TTR). RESULTS: Altogether 251,916 INR measurements performed in 4408 patients over a period of seven years were reviewed. Sixty percent of patients had their INR measured on average every 2 to 3 weeks and most others were followed at intervals of 4 weeks or longer. A small proportion (3.6%) had their INR measured on average every week. A significant decline in the time in therapeutic range was observed as the intervals between tests increased. At one to three weeks interval the TTR was 48%, at 4 weeks interval 45% and at 5 weeks 41% (P<0.0005). A five percent increment in TTR was observed if more tests were performed at multiplications of exactly 7 days (43% vs 48% P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A better control with an increase in the TTR was observed in patients with atrial fibrillation if prothrombin time tests are performed at regular intervals of no longer than 3 weeks.     

Evaluation of Dichloroacetic Acid for Carcinogenicity in Genetically Modified Tg.AC Hemizygous and p53 Haploinsufficient Mice

There has been considerable interest in the use of geneticallymodified mice for detecting potential environmental carcinogens.For this reason, the National Toxicology Program has been evaluatingTg.AC hemizygous and p53 haploinsufficient mice as models todetect potential carcinogens. It was reasoned that these mousemodels might also prove more effective than standard rodentmodels in evaluating the numerous disinfection byproducts thatare found in low concentrations in drinking water. Dichloroaceticacid (DCA) is one of the most frequently found disinfectionbyproducts and DCA has been consistently shown to cause hepatocellulartumors in rats and mice in standard rodent studies. Tg.AC hemizygousand p53 haploinsufficient mice were exposed in the drinkingwater to DCA for up to 41 weeks. In a second study Tg.AC micewere subjected to dermal DCA exposure for up to 39 weeks. Increasedincidences and severity of cytoplasmic vacuolization of hepatocyteswere seen in the p53 mice, but there was no evidence of carcinogenicactivity at exposures of up to 2000 mg/l in the drinking water.Increased incidences and severity of cytoplasmic vacuolizationof hepatocytes were seen in the drinking water study with Tg.ACmice and a modest non-dose-related increase in pulmonary adenomaswas observed in males exposed to 1000 mg/l in the drinking water.Dermal exposure up to 500 mg/kg for 39 weeks resulted in increaseddermal papillomas at the site of application in Tg.AC mice.No significant increase in papillomas under the same study conditionswas seen in the 26-week study. For DCA under these study conditions,the p53 and Tg.AC mice appear less sensitive to hepatocarcinogenesisthan standard rodent models. These results suggest caution forthe use of Tg.AC and p53 mice to screen unknown chemicals indrinking water for potential carcinogenicity.